Kylie Jenner Says Sky Blue Lipstick Is In, So I Tried 3 Different Ways to Wear It

Last Friday, Kylie Jenner added two new hues to her Lip Kit collection: Skylie, a light aqua, and Freedom, a deep sapphire. Let this be clear, these eccentric summer shades are not for the faint of heart. But with the Fourth of July right around the corner, which is what she timed the drop of her limited-edition shades to, I’ve got to admit, I was curious to see what sky blue lips look like IRL. Would they be as undeniably cool as Kylie makes them look? Or would I end up seeming like I ate a tube of Ichiban?

Also, there begged the other question: Once you’ve put on blue lipstick and there’s no turning back, what are you supposed to do with the rest of your face?! I set out to explore this makeup mystery by testing Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Pool Boy, a close dupe to the lighter blue of Kylie’s sold-out shades, as part of three different looks. Not going to lie, this trend is definitely one I wouldn’t naturally gravitate toward, so it was pretty fun to push my makeup limits. Here’s how it all went down.

LOOK #1: Blue Lips + Bare Face

As I was thinking about different looks to try, this was the one that made the most sense to me. If I’m wearing blue lipstick, I don’t really want to wear too much else, right? Even adding blush or any other color gave me pause—my goal was to try and not look like a clown here. So to even out my complexion a bit, I used AmorePacific Age Correcting Foundation Cushion, which always gives my skin a nice dewy glow. Then, I applied the statement lip. I think the minimal face makeup and zero eye makeup were a nice balance and—dare I say this—a surprisingly cool daytime look.

LOOK #2: Blue Lips + Graphic Blue Liner

Next, I felt like if you’re going to wear something this crazy, you might as well embrace it, so I went in a completely different direction: I paired the blue lips with a graphic blue cat eye. Yeah…this felt a bit more out-there. I actually started with a blue liner that matched my lips exactly (more of a light cerulean), but halfway through I started feeling a little like this. So, that came off fast, and I ended up going with this primary blue liquid liner from Revlon—keeping things cool and corollary, just less one-to-one. Then I finished off the look with YSL Mascara Vinyl Couture in No. 5 Trouble, an electric blue, for a final pop. It definitely isn’t my usual makeup look, but it was incredibly fun to try out.

LOOK #3: Blue Lips + Smoky Eye

For the third and last look, I decided I’d try something I might wear out: a neutral-toned smoky eye. I love a smoky eye at night, but, shocker, I’ve yet to pair it with a blue lip. So I used my trusty Urban Decay Naked Palette, starting with a light brown all over my lids, medium brown from the center out, and dark brown at the outer corners—bringing some shadow underneath my eyes, as well. I usually stick to a pinky-nude lipstick when I do a smoky eye, so I felt way out of my element with this. The look fell somewhere between “totally rocking this” and “WTF is happening here.” I like the two features (the eye, the lip) on their own, but together they’re a little off.

THE VERDICT

In the end, the look I’d realistically wear around other human beings besides my mom, who took these photos for me, would be the first one with the bare face. The blue lip is so striking and such a statement on its own that wearing next to nothing else feels like the best balance. I might actually do it again! The other two looks are eclectic and bold if that’s your thing, but overall I think less is more here. What do you think? Like it? Hate it? Wishing you bought a Lip Kit now? Regretting buying one? For my two cents, I think it’s at least worth a try—if anything to get a kick out of it.

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